ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
‘Centre for Disability Sports’ to be set up at Gwalior
A‘Centre for Disability Sports’will be set up at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. The proposal regarding setting up of it has been approved by the Government. It will be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, which is to function under the name of Centre for Disability Sports, Gwalior.Improved sports infrastructure created by this Centre will ensure effective participation of Persons with Disabilities  in sports activities and also enable them to compete at national and international levels. Setting up of the Centre will develop a sense of belonging in Divyangjan to facilitate their integration in society.
Taking 1st April, 2019 as the zero date, the project is expected to be completed in two yeartime, i.e, by 31st March, 2021. Thereafter, it will take another 6 months for the Centre to become operational.Once operational, this Centre will result in employment of 140 personnel. In addition, construction and allied activities will also generate considerable employment opportunities.Setting up of the Centre shall entail an estimated cost of Rs 170.99 crore ,spread over a period of 5 years.
The Centre will have an Outdoor Athletic Stadium, Indoor Sports Complex, Basement Parking Facility; Aquatic Centre having 2 Swimming Pools, one covered Pool and an Outdoor Pool; High Performance Centre with classrooms; medical facilities; Sports Science Centre; hostel facilities for athletes, support facilities including accessible lockers, dining, recreational amenities and Administrative Block. The facilities so developed would be multi-functional centres with provision for training, selection, sports academics and research, medical support, spectator galleries and suitable for holding national/international events.
The sports identified for training in the Centre are as under:
- Integrated sports  like Badminton, Basketball, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Judo, Taekwondo, Fencing and Rugby;
- Adapted sports  like Boccia, Goalball, Football 5 a side, Para Dance Sport and Para Power Lifting;
- Integrated sports  like Athletics, Archery, Football 7 a side and Tennis; and
- Integrated sports  – Swimming.
Ministry of Railways
Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal reviews the preparations of Indian Railways in supplementing national efforts for fighting COVID-19
For the first time in history, not a single passenger lost their life in last twelve months in a railway accident; Now we are working to make sure that COVID-19 has least impact on India : Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal
Directs the officials to reach out to needy people with food and other assistance
Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal has directed the officials of Indian Railways to reach out to needy people with food and other assistance to the best of their human abilities and resources. Railway Organizations like IRCTC and RPF are already engaged in distribution of free meals to the needy persons. The Minister said that Railways should widen the outreach of their efforts and go beyond the proximities of railways stations to deeper areas in consultation with district authorities and NGOs etc. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Railways Shri Suresh Angadi, members of the Railway Board, GMs and heads of PSUs from across the nation, who linked up through video conferencing.
Complimenting the Railways for extraordinary work being done so far in the fight against Corona and adopting innovative solutions like conversion of passenger coaches as isolation coaches, Shri Piyush Goyal expressed confidence that all the zones will meet the challenge of making these coaches fully ready and would be equipped at the earliest. It may be noted that work on conversion of first lot of 5000 coaches has already started in a phased manner
Railway Board officials informed the Minister that following Prime Minister's call to the nation, a contribution of Rs 151 crore was being made to PM CARE fund. Chairman Railway Board Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav informed that Employees of Indian Railways and Rail PSUs took a decision to forego one day's salary and contribute to the PM CARE Fund. Many Railway PSUs are also planning to contribute to the fund to bolster the national efforts.
While reviewing the running of special Parcel Trains by Railways to supply important items, Shri Piyush Goyal asked the officials to make the service available on more routes so that goods like medicines, essential equipments, edibles can be supplied all over the country in a quick time. E- Commerce companies and suppliers of other important goods which are needed in smaller quantities, are going to benefit from the parcel trains. Parcel special trains are already running on 8 routes and 20 more are in the pipe line in different zones.
Shri Piyush Goyal said that the next few weeks are critical in the fight against Corona virus and a determined effort by all of us would ensure that the nation wins the fight.
The Minister said that for the first time in history, not a single passenger lost their life in last twelve months in a railway accident. Now we are working to ensure that COVID 19 has least impact on India.
Ministry of Defence
Department of Military Affairs on fast-track of Swachhta Special Campaign 2.0
2,657 campaign sites cleaned; 363 rules simplified
, Ministry of Defence is on fast-track with regard to Swachhta Special Campaign 2.0. Cleanliness drives have been organised in 2,657 campaign sites and 363 rules simplified, so far. 800 public grievances, 67 MP/State references and 20 PMO references have been disposed of in the first two weeks of the Special Campaign 2.0, which is being conducted across all Ministries/Departments of Government of India from October 02, 2022 to October 31, 2022.
The campaign is being carried out by Army, Navy and Air Force at various locations across the country. Subordinate organisations and field formations of the three Services are actively participating in the campaign. All parameters of the Special Campaign 2.0 like disposal of public grievances, conduct of cleanliness campaign identified campaign sites, disposal of scrap etc are being pursued with the objective of achieving maximum success.
The Tri Shakti Corps undertook cleanliness drive in Retikhola river in Eastern Command.
Personnel of Thiruvananthapuram Military Station carried out beach cleaning at Kochuveli Beach to promote a healthy environment for coastal life.
Cleanliness campaign was also carried out across units of Indian Air Force.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
NIFTEM to conduct National Organic Festival of Women Entrepreneurs,
Ministries of Food Processing Industries and Women and Child Development Sign Agreement
Two women coming together to uplift other women: Smt Badal
In a unique collaborative effort Ministry of Food Processing Industries  and Ministry of Women and Child Development  today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to organise to organise “National Organic Festival of Women Entrepreneurs”. The event will be planned and organized through NIFTEM, Kundli, Sonepat, Haryana which is an academic institution under the administrative control of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India.
The festival aims to encourage Indian women entrepreneurs and farmers to connect with buyers and thus, empower them through financial inclusion, while also promoting organic food produce in India.
On its part, Ministry of Women and Child Development has agreed to transfer the funds for organizing the event by NIFTEM to the Vice Chancellor of the institute. The Vice Chancellor has agreed to organize the annual festival. The agreement calls upon the Vice Chancellor to provide Utilisation Certificate at the end of the financial year against the funds released by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
During the occasion Smt Harsimrat Badal said the Mela will promote both organic produce and women entrepreneurs. She said that this was a classic case of two women  coming together to uplift other women, women who have traditionally been practicing food processing at household levels. Alongside, the women entrepreneurs will be educated about the other schemes of the Ministry and how they can benefit from them.
Speaking about the Mela, she mentioned that it will feature organic produce, processed food, fabric, cosmetics, pesticides and fungicides among many products. She added that the festival will strive to provide linkages to women producers to market and supply chain, thereby facilitating their financial inclusion. The Minister expressed hope that this MoU will start a new kind of agenda in India which is to promote healthy eating and organic eating.
Smt Smriti Irani thanked Smt Badal and said that under the current Government, effort has always been to ensure that Ministries converge their strengths to serve the people better. She added that this MoU is an effort to support the women who are in the business of organic farming and this step will benefit millions of women across the country.
The agreement was signed by Smt Pushpa Subramanyam, Secretary, on behalf of Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Shri Rabindra Panwar, Secretary, on behalf of Ministry of Women and Child Development. The event took place in the presence of Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister, MoFPI and Smt Smriti Irani, Minister, MoWCD and senior officials of the two Ministries.
RM/SS
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Ministry of Science & Technology
Memorandum of Agreement  signed for commercialization of technology ‘Process for manufacturing of Nutmeg Pericarp Taffy’ between ICAR-CCARI, Goa & Goa State Biodiversity Board, Goa
Goa : 24 February 2021
A Memorandum of Agreement  was signed between ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute , Goa and Goa State Biodiversity Board , Goa, for commercialization of ICAR-CCARI’s technology “Process for manufacturing of Nutmeg Pericarp Taffy” at ICAR-CCARI, Old Goa on Friday, the19th February, 2021. This MoA was signed by Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director , ICAR-CCARI and Dr. Pradip Sarmokadam, Member Secretary, GSBB, Goa, in presence of Dr. A. R. Desai, Principal Scientist  involved in developing this technology, officials from GSBB, Goa and staff members of ICAR-CCARI, Goa. Dr. Shripad Bhat, Member Secretary  welcomed all the officials from both ICAR-CCARI and GSBB, Goa and presented the highlights of this non-exclusive licensing agreement which is valid for a period of five years.
Dr. E. B. Chakurkar congratulated the GSBB, Goa for entering into this MoA and also stressed the need for commercial utilization and transfer of prospective technologies for the benefit of farmers and agri-entrepreneurs in Goa state. Dr. Pradip Sarmokadam thanked ICAR-CCARI, Goa and expressed that GSBB would like to work with ICAR-CCARI for continued collaborative activities to promote conserving biodiversity through sustainable use of biological resources of the state. He also apprised that a new project has been initiated by GSBB, Goa, "Conservation of Biodiversity through livelihood intervention with the brand name GoVan" to enhance villagers' income, to create employment opportunities, thereby conserving local bio resources.
Nutmeg fruit has about 80-85% of pericarp  and high yielding nutmeg varieties produce up to 100 kg of fresh pericarp per tree. The present practice is collecting the nutmeg seeds and mace and generally discarding the pericarp in the field for rotting. But, this technology helps in effective utilisation of pericarp, otherwise discarded, by preparing the Nutmeg Taffy, a value-added food product, in a commercially feasible manner. This product fetches an additional income to farmers and entrepreneurs apart from the yield of nutmeg spice products- nutmeg seeds and mace. The product stores well at room temperature for about 12 months with simple packing without any synthetic preservatives. ICAR-CCARI, Goa has already filed an application  for patenting this technology. The Institute Technology Management Unit facilitated the signing of this MoA for further commercialization.
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President's Secretariat
President of India inaugurates ‘Ashiana Annexe’ in Dehradun
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the ‘Ashiana Annexe’ in Dehradun, Uttarakhand today  which comprises of twelve low cost dwelling units constructed to accommodate officers and staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan during Presidential visits to the Retreat at ‘Ashiana’.
These dwelling units have been constructed using the Habitech-NivaraTantra - Onsite Sanitation Integrated Community Housing Technology Innovations developed at the Asian Institute of Technology . The Technology innovations comprise unique blocks known as "compacted intermeshing" blocks which are made from local soil. The production of these blocks is on site and is an entirely green process. These blocks have novel cavities for horizontal and vertical reinforcement using steel bars which results in eliminating use of the conventional beams, columns and concrete lintel. The cavities also enable natural air curtain against temperature, noise pollution and water penetration. Other salient features of these dwelling units are that they are disaster resilient, sustainable and cost effective. Scientific treatment of sanitation waste enables mitigation of disease risk and ensures health and wellbeing of residents and the community.
On the occasion, an MoU between M/s Prashak Techno Enterprises and Central Building Research Institute was signed to collaborate for effective proliferation of Habitech-NivaraTantra Technology solutions with a focus on low cost, disaster resilient housing, more particularly in the rural areas to enable vision of "Housing for All" with a special emphasis on housing for the economically weaker sections and low income group communities.
The 'Ashiana' situated on Rajpur Road of Dehradun comprises of the main building, Annexe, Upper Stables & Lines and Lower Stables & Lines with associated roads and pathways. Built originally as bungalow of the Commandant of the President's Bodyguard, it has been revived by the President after long years of disuse. Shri KR Narayanan was the last President who stayed here in March 1998. The main building of the renovated 'Rashtrapati Ashiana’ was inaugurated by the President on September 27, 2016.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Six Hundred Global Buyers to Participate Indusfood- II 2019
The Dhaka based India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce  will participatewith a strong contingent of F&B buyersinIndusfood-II 2019 to source their food and beverage requirements from India. Abdul Matlub Ahmad, President-IBCCI and former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry  made this announcement following discussions with Ashok Sethi, Director-Trade Promotion Council of India , at NitolBhaban, in Mohakhali, Dhaka recently.
TPCI is working to attract maximum buyers from the SAARC countries to source their food and beverage related requirements from India. Some of the big buyers, including supermarket chains, from Gulf Cooperation Council  countries including Iran and the Commonwealth of Independent States or Russian Commonwealth  countries have already pledged their presence in Indusfood-II.
Some of the key products that Bangladesh will source from India are fruits, spices, confectionary, agri produce, dry fruits and mustered and soya oil. Bangladesh is already doing business with North Eastern states of India and in Indusfood-II, their contingent will be looking forward to meeting new exporters from the North East region, including the Horticulture Department of North Eastern States.
TPCI is expecting around 600 global buyers from 50 countries and over 350 Indian exporters and producers to participate at this World Food Supermarketin Indusfood-II being held on 14th – 15thJanuary, 2019 in Greater Noida, NCR, Delhi.
Indusfood-I, held in early 2018, saw participation of leading importers from 43 countries and 320 Indian exporters and generated an estimated business of $650 million. The international buyers and Indian sellers from 12 categories of Food & Beverage industry experienced a unique opportunity of a B2B dialogue and insight into the large basket of brands, private labels and bulk purchase of raw items that India could offer to the world.
Ministry of Railways
Doubling of Railway Lines
Presently, 255 Doubling projects of length 20,500 Km costing ₹2.32 lakh crore are in different stages of planning/sanction/execution, out of which 2,784 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹48,342 crore has been incurred till March 2019. Total outlay of ₹17,602 crore has been provided for the projects in financial year 2019-20.
Details of doubling projects in progress and new works including expenditure and outlay are made available in public domain on Indian Railways website i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in >Ministry of Railways >Railway Board >About Indian Railways >Railway Board Directorates >Finance .
The timely completion of any Railway project depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities , statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic considerations, encountering unforeseen conditions like earthquake, flooding, excessive rains, strikes of labour, orders of Hon’ble Courts, situation and conditions of working agencies/contractors etc. All these factors vary from project to project and site to site and affect the completion time and cost of the project, which is finally worked out at the completion stage. Therefore, timeline for completion of projects cannot be given.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
President's Secretariat
President of India’s Greetings on the Eve of Idu’l Zuha
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind has greeted fellow citizens on the eve of Idu’l Zuha.
In his message, the President has said, “On the occasion of Idu’l Zuha, I offer my greetings and good wishes to all fellow citizens, especially our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Idu’l Zuha symbolizes the spirit of sacrifice and amity which inspires us to work for the well-being of one and all.
Let us all reiterate our resolve to follow all the rules and guidelines prescribed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. On this festive occasion, let us share our happiness with others and promote mutual harmony”.
Click here to see President's Message in hindi
Election Commission
Election Commission of India Announces Schedule for General Election to the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi, 2020– Polling to be held on 8th February, 2020 and Counting on 11th February, 2020
Election Commission of India today announced the Schedule for General Election to the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi, 2020. Please see the following link for due details.
Pl. click here to see the details
President's Secretariat
President of India Graces 52nd Convocation and Closing Ceremony of Centenary Year Celebrations of Punjab Engineering College
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the 52nd convocation and closing ceremony of centenary year celebrations of Punjab Engineering College  in Chandigarh today .
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that established in Lahore in the year 1921, PEC has emerged as a leading institute for research and contributed to the global technological change. It is a premier institute of the country as well as a harbinger of technical education in this region. The National Education Policy - 2020 states that a good educational institution is one in which every student is welcomed and cared for and where an inspiring environment with good infrastructure and appropriate resources exists. She was happy to note that PEC has all these qualities. She expressed confidence that this college will continue to strive towards excellence.
The President was happy to note that PEC has provided many luminaries to the country in the fields of technology, industry, civil services, education and research which include: former Chairman of ISRO and father of experimental fluid dynamics research in India, Prof. Satish Dhawan; eminent educationist and founder-Director of IIT, Delhi, Prof. R.N. Dogra; an expert in Missiles Technology and Strategic Systems, Dr. Satish Kumar. She said that Kalpana Chawla, alumna of PEC’s Aeronautical Engineering Department, became the first woman astronaut of Indian origin who created an inspiring history of self-sacrifice for science. She was happy to note that the Kalpana Chawla Chair of Geospatial Technology is established in PEC. She said that the number of girl students should be increased in technical educational institutions to give more impetus to the progress of the country.
Addressing the graduating students, the President said that as they are entering in a world of unlimited opportunities and possibilities, she has no doubt that they are capable of converting opportunities into success and possibilities into certainties. She advised them to never forget their duties towards the motherland, whatever they choose to become in their life. She said that they are the builders of India of tomorrow. It is expected from them that they will use the knowledge acquired in this prestigious institution in the service of humanity too. She urged them to keep Mahatma Gandhi's message of ‘Sarvodaya’ in their individual priorities. She said that it is the moral duty of every citizen, especially the youth, to put into practice the values of the ‘Father of the Nation’.
Just before the convocation ceremony of PEC, the President inaugurated the newly constructed building of UT Chandigarh Secretariat.
Please click here to see the President's Speech in Hindi